John Browett Admits He ‘Just Didn’t Fit’ At Apple

John Browett, who spent nine months as Apple’s senior vice president of retail before being ousted alongside Scott Forstall last October, has admitted that he “just didn’t fit” in with the way Apple ran its business. Browett still feels Apple is a fantastic company and says he loved working there, but he told The Independent that he was “rejected for fit rather than competency.”

Browett joined Apple in January 2012 after leaving British electronics retailer Dixons retail, and he is now the chief executive of fashion retailer Monsoon Accessorize.

When Apple announced he would leave the company last October, it was reported that Browett had angered staff by cutting retail employees and working hours within Apple stores, and he was criticized for creating unhappy working conditions that had damaged staff morale.

But Browett says that his departure from Apple was “probably the best thing that’s ever happened” to him.

“Apple is a truly fantastic business,” he told The Independent. “The people are great, they’ve got great products, it’s got a great culture, and I loved working there — it’s a fantastic business. The issue there was that I just didn’t fit within the way they run the business. So for me it was one of those things where you’re rejected for fit rather than competency.”

“What you learn from that is a degree of humility,” Browett added. “It certainly makes you a much kinder person, and it actually got me very clear about how I am and what I’m like to work with.”

Apple is now on the lookout for another retail executive, but it could be a while before the position is filled. After Ron Johnson left for JC Penney in June 2011, it took the Cupertino company over six months to replace him.